set output to do shell script "uptime"
tell application "Finder"
display dialog output buttons {"OK"} default button 1
end tell
If you wish, you can then add a shortcut to it from your launcher. Voila, uptime and load averages at your findertips (literally).
[robg adds: This is a very simple hint, but one that demonstrates to new AppleScript users how to display the output from any Terminal command in a dialog. For uptime, and many other Terminal commands whose output I'd like to see on occasion (such as the results of the last Time Machine backup), I use GeekTool, as described in this Pick of the Week entry. (And yes, that feature will return in some form shortly...).]

